A Sonic Boom: Groups, Duos

F ollowers of the $25 Guide will notice that for the first time the Guide consists solely of groups or duos. So what’s Emmylou Harris doing here? Her new album is a collection of duets. The Guide is a blueprint to keeping up with what’s exciting in pop music on a budget of $25 a month (or $40 for compact disc buyers).

July

Sonic Youth’s “Goo” (DGC Records)--Have these artsy, guitar-worshipping, post-punk underground heroes sold their musical soul by moving up to the giant Geffen Records complex? A record as good-natured yet as relentlessly independent as “Goo” answers the question with a strong no .

The Sundays’ “Reading, Writing and Arithmetic” (DGC)--This quartet was so highly touted in the British press after its 1988 debut single (included on the album) that it’s a wonder it was able to maintain its innocent, understated, Cocteau Twins-influenced style and make an album as level-headed and as engaging as this.

Tony! Toni! Tone’s! “The Revival” (Wing)--Tony! Toni! Tone! is part of an Oakland scene (along with the more rap-oriented Digital Underground) that is combining funk, rap and pop with a sense of celebration and imagination that recalls Bay Area pioneer Sly Stone.

August

Emmylou Harris’ “Duets” (Reprise)--Most of these tracks have appeared on sound-track albums or on albums by other artists, but they are gathered together for the first time, and serve as testimony to the artistry and range of arguably the most satisfying female singer ever in country music. Among the memorable pairings: Gram Parsons, Roy Orbison, Neil Young and George Jones.

Jesus Jones’ “Liquidizer” (SBK)--Among the marvelously eclectic influences cited in the album’s liner notes--if not always heard in the post-punk, psychedelic sound of this British band: the Byrds, Public Enemy, Sonny Boy Williamson, the Jungle Brothers and Faith No More.

Was (Not Was)’s “Are You Okay?” (Chrysalis)--In this album-of-the-year contender, David and Don Was also mix and match styles (rap, funk, rock and more) in a sometimes wild and wacky, sometimes purposeful look at American heroes, institutions and foibles.